Mile Long Dive Site in Samal - Davao

Along the east coast of Samal Island, a little bit south, is the Mile-Long dive site. This part of Samal faces the Davao Gulf at the Compostela Valley side of the area where strong currents sometimes manage to reach this dive spot.

But generally, water current on and beneath Mile-Long dive site is quite calm, more so when we chance upon a good timing when a mild wind blows during the Amihan season—usually near summer time. Mile-Long dive site is ideal for advanced divers. With novice divers, it will be too risky to venture more than 5 or 10 meters down the site because of the unpredictable current.

Down 30 meters, the initial drop off, Mile-Long dive site begins to show its fascinating wonders. Most obvious are the reef fish teeming on the coral areas where reefs extend as far as the eyes could see. The undulating reef scene may be joined by dolphins sometimes lingering in the areas surrounding, as well as other pelagic fish.

It is a mile-long stretch of hard and soft corals, on rolling slopes underwater with colorful deep sea flora and fauna and some patches of sandy floor. There are also small tropical fish roaming in the area, in droves, as a number of garden eels parrot fish and wrasse also survey their habitat surroundings. Mile-Long dive site is home for a lot of anemones where shrimps, anthias, fusiliers, damselfish, butterfly fish, sponges, and tube worms take residence.

Once in a while, in the area, we may see ribbon eels venturing a peek from their concealments under rocks or a coral nook, or flounders camouflaging under the sandy sea floor. The marine life at Mile-Long dive site is quite colorful with the proliferation of diverse nudibranches and pleurobranches.

Mile-Long dive site is very near Mushroom Rock. We may drift southwards to this area unknowingly as we survey the captivating sights along Mile-Long dive site and suddenly find ourselves in the vicinity of this mushroom-like rock formation. Dive areas around Samal look somewhat the same with more or less the same marine elements. Often, they differ only in coral or rock formations.

To the north of Mile-Long dive site is Tagbaobo in front of the coastal town of Tagbaobo. Further north is Aundanao Sanctuary, another underwater marine marvel of Samal. Thus, Mile-Long dive site lies along a neighborhood of world-class dive havens which serious marine photography divers are sure to feast on.

Mile-Long dive site is among Mother Nature’s numerous gifts to the people of Samal.